 My day begins with a 30 minute cycle ride to the office. I arrive for 9.00am and make my way to the kitchen where I pick up a coffee, and catch up with some of the other trainees. The first thing I do when at my desk is check my e-mails. There are a few from clients that I have been expecting which will allow me to finalise some matters I have been working on. I am often involved in numerous matters running simultaneously, usually working with a number of different partners and fee earners in the department. It's important that I take a moment to plan my work for the day.
9:30am Before I get going, a partner finds me at my desk and asks me to undertake some research. The partner is meeting a client this morning and needs to know if there have been any reported cases on a technical point of the law. I get on to it straight away, and manage to find something quite quickly. Legal research can be a bit of a maze; you normally need a logical approach and a bit of patience. Sometimes there is no answer so you need to be confident that you’ve checked the relevant resources properly and then back your conclusions.
10:00am I take the opportunity to deal with my e-mails and finish off one matter. I have been assisting a partner with a probate file and have just received the final summary of a large auction sale of antiques and jewellery from the estate. I finalise the accounts to be submitted to HM Revenue and Customs and
e-mail it to the partner for his final review.
11.00am In half an hour I am joining an associate solicitor in a client meeting. The clients are a couple wishing to write new wills and discuss capital tax planning. The associate gives me all the necessary details given by the client in advance of the meeting. As is the case with many of our clients, there are a wide range of factors to consider and several options that we will need to discuss. We run through the likely structure of the meeting. It is important that I understand all the issues beforehand as I will need to make a detailed note, and am likely to be drafting the wills after the meeting.
11.30am I make my way to reception with the associate and we greet the clients. The associate takes the clients through the full range of options, and discusses the pros and cons. It's great experience to see the associate in full flow, and I am learning a lot. The associate even refers some small technical points to me to explain to the clients. The clients have strong views on how they would like to structure their affairs and by the end of the meeting there is a defined plan. I have agreed to supply a copy of my note to the clients so I head back to my desk and make a start on this.
1:00pm Lunch. Sometimes we have a technical session or a seminar, led by one of the team. These usually cover recent changes in the law or significant cases. Most lunchtimes, like today, I meet with the other trainees. It's nice outside so we pick up some food from a nearby shop and sit in the grounds of St Paul's Cathedral for half an hour.
2:00pm I finish the note and send this to the associate for him to review. Next I make a start on the wills. I have drafted several of these in my seat to date, but this is the most complicated. I also have to write a full commentary explaining each clause, and a covering letter highlighting the key provisions.
4:30pm A solicitor asks me to register a transfer of a property. A client is putting the property into trust for the benefit of her children. This is where my previous seat in commercial property helps me as I am familiar with the process. There are a number of forms that I prepare, then I draft a letter to the client setting out the process and asking her to sign the forms.
5:30pm Tomorrow I will be assisting our family team by attending court. The hearing is in the High Court brought under the Hague Convention International Abduction laws. I make sure I have all I need and review the papers.
6:30pm A drinks evening has been organised for the new trainees who will be joining the firm this year. This also gives me the chance to catch up with the trainees from the Godalming and Basingstoke offices. Home by 9.00pm.
|
|